5 things you didn’t know your tablet can do

By Kim Komando, Komando.com

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It’s hard to believe the first iPad was released in 2010. We use tablets for entertainment, work, and even to pay for a mocha at the local café. The device that once looked like science fiction is now a staple of American homes.

But most of us don’t realize how many different ways we can use our tablets. Switch around a few settings or download the right app, and you can perform all kinds of digital magic tricks.

Here are five things you didn’t know your tablet can do.

1. Use your computer from your tablet

Desktops are a double-edged sword: They’re powerful and have large screens, but they also tend to sit in one place. What happens when you’re on the road, and you need to nab some files off your desktop back at home or the office?

It’s not a problem if your tablet and PC or Mac is loaded with Splashtop. Simply download and install the free Splashtop Streamer software on your computer, get the app for either iPad or Android, create an account and then log into both target devices for instant remote access. This way, you can be holding your tablet on a beach in Maui, but the display shows your desktop just as if you were sitting in front of it back home in Minnesota.

The app costs $9.99, and an annual subscription costs $16.99. For folks who travel a lot or need regular access to files and software that aren’t portable, Splashtop Personal is a great way to go.

Have you ever emailed a file, such as a photo or a document, to your Mac from your iPhone or iPad, even as you sit right in front of your Mac? Yes, I've done it too, just like nearly every other Apple user on the planet. That's because using email to move files around works pretty well as long as your file is small enough to be attached.

The Mac’s latest operating system, Sierra, also has a feature that allows you to keep your Documents and Desktop folders in the cloud (via iCloud Drive) and then see them on your iPad or iPhone, too.

There's a better way to move files among your gadgets or even among your friends. Apple AirDrop is a built-in app that lets you seamlessly move files back and forth between nearby desktop Macs and iOS gadgets like iPad, iPhone or iPod touch. It’s a quick and convenient way to transfer files from an iOS gadget to a Mac using a Bluetooth connection.

This is particularly handy for iPad owners, who can start AirDropping in a matter of seconds. To enable AirDrop on an iPad, swipe up on the Home screen to access the Control Panel. From here, you can set AirDrop to receive from Contacts Only, Everyone, or Off. Newer Mac computers also have this ability, and you can find AirDrop in Finder.

Fun tip: AirDrop is also an especially efficient way to share photos between friends, as long as each person is using an iPhone or iPad and has AirDrop turned on.

Not to be outdone, Android tablets have a nearly identical system in a third-party app called Airmore. You can move music, movies, photos, and apps from your Android tablet to any compatible device, along with your call logs and text messages.

Tablets are designed to be intuitive, and sometimes they’re even more intuitive than a time-tested gizmo like a TV remote. With the right system in place, you can replace your remote entirely.

Some tablets are designed with television in mind. The Galaxy Tab, for example, has a built-in IR transmitter, which you can use as a universal TV remote. As with your old-fashioned remote, you’ll have to aim the Tab directly at the TV.

iPads and Androids don’t have an IR transmitter, but if you’re feeling handy, you can buy an external transmitter that attaches to the audio jack, just like your ear buds.

There’s a more sophisticated way to control your television from a distance. You can invest in a Harmony Home Hub or the Bluemoo, which are designed to turn your smartphone or tablet into a remote control. Not only can you change channels on your TV, but you activate any Bluetooth gadget in your home, including speakers, smart lamps and security devices. The best part: You don’t have to aim your tablet at anything, you just have to be within the Bluetooth’s range.